Dispensing device



Sept. 9, 1958 w. 'r. MAYOET AL 2,851,192

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1953 Z Sheets-Sheet l ErnesiLHendezsonM'llzlzmZ'Mayo BY 2 at? ATTORNEY S" Sept. 9, 1958 w. T'. MAYO ETAL2,851,192

DISPENSING DEVICE -12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1953 FIG..9.

s m 62 M' 9 5 65 i W 77 67 58 64 FIGJJ. 76 72 71 74 FIGJZ, 70

as 3 11.51 #15 INVE TORS 7 980 96 Erne'siL.He2zd; ls0n 9Y5 mlliamlfMayoATTORNEW 2,851,192 Patented Sept. 9

United States Patent Ofiice DISPENSING DEVICE William T. Mayo and ErnestL. Henderson, Silver Spring, Md.

Application April 16, 1953, Serial No. 349,142 1 Claim. (Cl. 221-273)The present invention relates to an improved dispensing device forejecting articles from a container.

An important object is to provide a dispensing device 7 I with simple,eflicient, economical and sanitary means for withdrawing singly orsequentially articles therefrom.

the lowermost lid on the base may be moved. outwardly in order that aprojecting tab portion can be readily grasped to withdraw the lid fromthe dispenser.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a sideview of a dispensing device constructed in accordancewith the present invention. Figure 2 is a front view of Figure. l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFigure 2. l

.Figure 4 is a view similar'to Figure .3 showing a lid being projectedfrom the dispenser.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 ofFigure 3.

Figure 6 is aside view with parts in section showing means fortransferringlids from a carton to adispenser. Figure 7 is a sectionalview of a modified form of housing for the articles.

Figure 8 is a plan view with parts in section of a modified form of theinvention. v

. Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 8. I I

Figure 10 is a front view with parts in section of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11of Figure 8. Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the invention, and

' Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 13-13of Figure 12. i Referring to the drawings, 15 indicates a supportingbase which, as shown in Figure 1, has a circular bottom 16 provided withan elongated opening 17'. Extending upwardly from the bottom 16 is asemicircular flange 18 a modified form of having diametricallydisposed-slots 19 for receiving the radial pins 20 that extend outwardlyfrom opposite sides of an article container, such as the housing 21which,

as shown, is provided with an open lower end 22a'nd an open upper end 23that may be closed by a removable cover 24. The articles 25 to bedispensed, such as paper lids for drinking cups and the like, arestacked in the housingZl, preferably in a manner subsequently to bedescribed, so that the lowermost lid 26 (Fig. 1) willrest on the top ofthe'base 16. A reciprocating ejector plate the accompanying claim andpending lug 28 so'that normally, the tension of the 16 on the base andis secured to a depending lug 28 that extends loosely through the slot17 in any suitable manner such as by the screw 29. The plate 27 may beshaped as shown in Figure 3 and has a reduced centrally disposed rearportion 30 that terminates in an upwardly extending lip or lug 31 whichnormally is positioned below the lower end of the housing 21 (Fig. 3)and is movable outwardly to the position as shown in dotted lines inFigure 4, when ejecting the lowermost lid from the dispenser. The base15 has extending outwardly from oneside thereof,'an arm 32 (Fig. 3)arranged to be vertically movable in a slot 33 of the bracket 34 whichis suitably secured to a wall or the like by the bolts 35. The arm 32terminates in an angularly disposed flange 36 arranged to abut the innerside of the front of the bracket 34 when the parts are assembled.

A bifurcated member 37 extends downwarly from the underside of thebottom 16 of the base and has a manually operated lever 38 pivotallyconnected thereto as at 39. The inner end of the lever '38 terminates ina curved portion or hook 40 which is arranged to engage a cam shoulderedsurface 41 on one side of the depending member or lug 28 (Fig. 5) sothat when the lever 38 is moved downwardly from the position as shown inFigure l to that disclosed in Figure 5, it will cause the dependingmember 28 and the ejector plate 27 to be moved outwardly relative to thebase 15. The arm 32 (Fig. 5) has extending downwardly therefrom, a lug42 to which is connected at one end a coil spring 43 that has securedto'its opposite .end as at 44, a substantially rectangular strap. member45 that extends loosely around the de spring 43 will urge the lug 28 andthe ejector plate 27 to their inoperative position as shown in Figure 3.The outer end of the lever 38 may terminate in a triangular shaped flatportion 46 so as to facilitate the manual operation of the lever.

or member 27 (Fig. 5) is slidably mounted .Onthe bottom Assuming thatthe dispenser is to be used for ejecting the lids of paper cups or thelike 25, each of which isof circular shape (Fig. 4) and is formed withan outwardly projecting tab 47, the housing 21 preferably has its 'vertical sideedges 48 spaced apart (Fig. 2)'so as toform the slot 49 inwhich is slidably mounted the tabs 47 when the housing is mounted on thedispenser. -The opposed sides 48 are connected preferably by thevertically spaced straps 50 which are welded or otherwise connected toopposite sides of the housing. The strap member 45 may be maintained inposition on the lug 28 in any suitable manner such as by the pin 51which limits the down ward movement of the strap 45 when the parts areassembled. I V In order that the lids may be applied to theircontainers, such as drinking cups or the like, in a sanitary conditionand without danger of contaminating the contents of the cups with whichthey are used, the base 15 and housing 21 may be bodily removed'from theWall bracket 34 (Fig. 6) and inserted in the square or diamond shapedcarton 52 (Fig. 6) in which the lids 25 arepacked, so as not to damagethe tabs 47. The tabs are positioned to register with the vertical slot49 in order that the lids 25 may be inserted in the housing 21 withoutcomin'gin contact with the hands of the operator. After. the lids havebeen transferred from the carton or box 52- tothe housing 21, the base15 andthe housing 21 may again be connected to the wall bracket 34 so asto be main tained in proper position for ejecting the lids from the-diskpenser. Instead of the housingZl being provided with a vertical slot oropening 49, it may be formed-in ,one piece as shown in Figure 7, and be'provided withan integral curved projection 53 for slidablyreceivingthetabs 47 whenthe lids are stacked in the housing.-

, Thus, it will be seen that when the parts are assembled,

asshown-inliigure 1, the lowermost lid 26 rests .upon the ejector plate27 and is engaged by the lip 31. The tension of the spring 43 nowmaintains the lever 38 in substantially horizontalrpo'sition so that it:may b e:conveniently-actuated. When:the:leveri38risdepressed, soxas: toassume the1 posi1ionasshown in Figure 5, thevhook portion- 40 initiallyen'gagesi the cam surface-41so as:to force the lug 28' outwardly. Atthersame time, it .moves: the-ejector plate27' and-the" lowermost lid26'outwardly in orderto exposethe tabr47 (Fig; 4) so that the lid maybe-manually withdrawn and applied to the cup -or container with whichthe lid. is associated. Upon release. of the handle 38 the" tension ofthe. spring 431= causes. the: ejector plate arid itsassociated parts' tobe. returnedto their normal or inoperative 'position southat the nextlowermost lid may" be withdrawn from. the :dispenser.

In -the modifiedtform ofithe inventionshown. in Figures'=8, 9, landillthe-supporting member orbase. 54 has its outer surface or sides 55rofsubstantially square or-diamond shape, and its inner surface formedofa circular inner wall 57 thatextends upwardly alimited. distance fromthe bottom 58 of the supporting member (Fig. 11). The inner circularwall 57 terminates. in an outwardly 'curved or flared portion.59 for apurpose subsequently to be described. The lids 60 are stackedin thesquare carton or container61' so that the tabs 62 are positioned looselyin the vertical cut-out portionsor groove 62' that constitutes a guideand protecting means .for preventing the tabs from being bent ordamaged. The tabsare located=adjacent the juncture of two: sides of thecarton (Fig. 8). The'supporting. member 54..is formed with asubstantially squareishaped recessior groove 63 of the same sizeandshape-as theicarton 61: so that.the lowenend of' the carton 61" may.be. insertedithereirr in orderthat the lidsmay be properly positioned soas to be sequentially-"ejected from the dispenser. The recess63-terminates short of thebottom 58, and the front side. of the baseadjacent the bottom is provided with a transverse slot or dischargethroat 64 through which the lowermost lid 65 (Fig. 9) in the carton isejected. The bottom 58 or thebase-has an elongated slot 66 throughwhichextends the depending lug 67 that is connected" to the slidable ejectorplate 68 by the screw 69. An operating lever 70 is pivotally connectedasat 71 to a bracket 72 connected to the undersideofi the bottom- 58. Thelever 70 has a curved orhooked inuerend' 73 arranged to engage thecam-shouldered surface 74 on the inner sideof the lug 67. The-ejectorplate 68 is maintained in its inoperative position'by arectangularshaped strap or member 75 which loosely engages the lug 67' at one endand is conneeted at its opposite end to a coil spring 76 as at 77. Theopposite end of the spring 76 is connected to a depending boss 78 thatprojects from the centrally disposed arm 79 of the base 54. A bracket 80(Fig. 8)" may be connected to a wall by thebolts 81 and is provided withthe spaced lugs 82 which slidably receive the transverse flange 83 thatextends laterally from the arm 79 so as to detachably secure the base 54and its associated parts ina fixed position. The. flared portion of thewall 57 servesto guide the lids downwardly into the base so that they"willbe properly positioned relative to the ejector plate.

"The base 54' and its associated parts are substantially similar inconstruction and operation to the base previously described. The ejectorplate 68 is formed at its innerend withan upwardly extending lug 84(Fig. 8) which ".normally is positioned so as to engage themriphery ofthe lowermost lid 65 so that upon actuation of' the handle 70, this lidwill be moved outwardly in order toexpose the tab 62 through the opening64 in order-that the lid may be manually removed from the dispenser andapplied to a cup or the like.

In the modifiedform of the invention shown in Figures 12 and- 13, thedispenser housing 85 may be similar in construction to the formspreviouslydescribed, and has its bottom 86 adjacent its, rear endprovided with an, elongated slot 87 in which is slidably mounted a lug88 that extends upwardly from a reciprocating rod 89. The lug 88normally engages the adjacent side of the lowermost lid 90. The rod 89extends through a housing 91 in which is confined a coil spring 92 thatis'connected at one end to a fixed collar or flange :93. on-..the rod.The housing 91 may be connected to .the underside of the bottom 86 inany suitable manner such as by the spaced bolts 94. The rod 89 at itsouter'endis preferably. formed-with a handle )5. Normally, thetensionnofthe spring 92 causes the rod 89. and .the.lug.88-. to assume theposition as shown in Figure 13. When it is desired to eject thelowermost lid in the dispenserzSS therefrom; the handle 95 is pushedoutwardly, thus exposing the tab 96 of the lid so that it may bemanually engaged and withdrawn from the dispenser. Upon release ofpressure on the handle 95,

the spring 92 r returns the'rod and :the lug 88 :to their normalorninoperativeipositiomso. that the lug now engages the .-lowermost.lid; in order that the same maybe ejected whentheihandle 95 iis.againmoved ontwardly. Thus. it will beiseenthat in all forms of theinvention'the supporting basetmember is arranged to have mounted thereonastack.of;articles,. such as. paper or cardboard lidsin order-that theselids. mayrbe conveniently ejected fromtthedispenser. Further, positivemeans are pro vided for: preventing contact of the hands with portionsotthe lid-which comein contact withthe'contents of thetcup orscontainerwith which thelids are to be used.

While: the dispensing device .hassbeen shown associated with lids, itwill bemanifest that it is equally efiicient for use for. dispensingseparatelyvariousother articles such 3SP13.Sll101 wooden spoons, flatsheet materials and the like. vThe housing for theiar'ticles: maybeformedof any light, durable material, such as transparent plastic or thelike.

It willbe understood-that the forms ofithe invention shown-aremerelyillustrativeof preferred embodiments and that such changes maybemade. as: come. within .the scope of thefollowingclaim.

We claim:

. In combination with a dispenser for'paper' cup lids, a carton havingcircular lids packed therein, said lids havingtabs extending laterallyand. outwardly therefrom, said dispenser including a supporting memberhaving a horizontal. base provided with a hollow upwardly extendingportion, said extending portion having an outer surface ofsubstantiallysquare shape inhorizontal cross section and a substantially cylindrical.shaped inner surface, the inner'wall of said extending portion having avertical groove substantially coextensive inlength therewith andcommunicating with a laterally extending discharge throatadjacent-esaidbase, said groove being disposed adjacent a corner of theouter square surface of the supporting: membcr,,the upwardly extendingportion of said supporting member havinga substantiallysquare shapedrecess-extending vertically and downwardly from the top thereof, saidcarton being of substantiallysquare shape and havingan openedend mountedin said recess so that the lids in the carton. fallinto-said'cylindrical shaped inner surface and the tabs extend into.said vertical, groove "when the opened end of the carton is insertedinto said recess, an ejector plate. having an upwardly extendingejectorfinger slideably mounted on said base sothatthe lowermost lid inthe. carton rests onthe ejector plate in frontof- .said. finger, andmeans for actuating said plate so as toejectthe lowermost lid throughsaid discharge throat.

.-References. Cited in the. file. of this patent UNITED STATES' PATENTSRe. 23,233 Schneider May 23, 1950 483,849 Marsden Oct. 4, 1892 (Otherreferences on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Klepetar June 3,1902 Van Dyke May 11, 1909 Rese June 24, 1913 Cooley May 8, 1917 HammerDec. 21, 1926 Aldrich July 9, 1929 Towey Dec. 29, 1931 Wessman Mar. 22,1932 La Bombard et a1. May 8, 1934 Geyer Jan. 22, 1935 Swart Oct. 19,1937 Lobley Nov. 30, 1937 6 Fuselier June: "7 1938 Carew Dec. 27, 1938Stuart Jan. 10, 1939 Greenhill June 4, 1940 Bohlman June 13, 1944 HaitApr. 1, 1947 Drexel May 1, 1951 Kreul Apr. 14, 1953 Charland -12.-- July12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 3, 1936

